Parent Resources and Support

Key Resources for Parents of Advanced Learners:

Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented:The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) is a support and advocacy organization for parents and educators of gifted children. This website is loaded with valuable local and national resources.

 MCGT Resource Library: In addition to providing parents and educators opportunities to work together in advocacy, MCGT has a fabulous parent resource page to support you in learning more about the unique characteristics of your advanced learner.

Annual MCGT Conference in November

Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented: MEGT cooperates with other organizations and agencies in efforts to promote the education, funding and welfare of gifted and talented students and encourages scholarly research and the dissemination of information pertaining to gifted and talented children in school and society.

National Association of Gifted Children: NAGC invests all of its resources to train teachers, encourage parents and educate administrators and policymakers on how to develop and support gifted children and what's at stake if high-potential learners are not challenged and encouraged.

MPS Parent Resources and Support

MPS District Page for Talent Development and Advanced Learner Eduation

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Online Academic Resources for All Parents:

Math Facts Practice and Learning
playkidsgames.com/games/mathfact/mathFact.htm
mathfactcafe.com/home/
factmonster.com/math/flashcards.html
abcya.com/math_facts_game.htm
xtramath.org/  
freerice.com/category
IXL
First in Math
Kahn Academy
SoftSchools.Com - Extra practice - worksheets, games, etc. for lots of different subjects
Talking Math With Your Kids Blog

Evaluating Age appropriate books / Reading Resources
Common Sense Media: A site you can use to review all types of media for age/emotion appropriateness.  It also appears like they have some activities to do as well.
GoodReads: A site that does book reviews
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/book-selection-tips/find-age-appropriate-books-advanced-readers
http://www.books4yourkids.com/2008/08/age-appropriate-books-for-advanced.html  This site just gives some advise and ideas of things to look for.
Scholastic Book Wizard (For help finding books at your just-right level)
http://www.npr.org/2013/08/05/207315023/the-ultimate-backseat-bookshelf-100-must-reads-for-kids-9-14

Science
http://www.fossweb.com/  This site requires a bit of navigation but it offers the children the opportunity to play games, do activities and read the books associate with our science unit.

Recommended Book
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Apps for Fun and Learning
Tinker Box - Free Physics Game & Puzzle App
Where's My Water? - a challenging physics-based puzzle with amazing life-like mechanics
Mine Craft - creative building and exploration
Fun with Computer Coding: 7 Apps for Teaching Children Coding Skills
    Scratch  (free - for web platform)
    Hopscotch  (free - for iPad platform)
    Daisy the Dinosaur  (free - for iPad platform)
    Cargo Bot (free - for iPad platform)
    Tynker (free - for web platform)
    Game Star Mechanic
    Move the Turtle

Computer Science Education Resource Guide

Academic Summer Camp Programs
U of M
Intermediate District 287 - West Suburban Summer School (WSSS)

Local Museums / Places to Explore and Learn
Bakken Museum
Bell Museum of Natural History
Children's Theater Company
Leonardo's Basement
Minnesota Children's Museum
Mill City Museum
Minneapolis College of Art & Design
Minnesota Historical Society
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
MN Zoo
Museum of Russian Art
Science Museum of Minnesota
Walker Art Center
Weisman Museum
The Works Museum
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory